Welcome to the first official issue of School News 2024-25! School News, our weekly email newsletter, is one of our primary communications to school parents/guardians. It is sent every Friday, and all past issues are archived on our website for your reference. We ask all parents to take some time to peruse the newsletter each week. Here, we share a calendar overview, need-to-know items, and news from around the school. 

We cannot wait for the year to unfold - it will surely be spectacular. Thank you, parents/guardians, for the love and attention you put into making the start of the year just right for your child. We know many long hours go into preparing supplies, thoughtful conversation to calm first-day jitters, making sure the uniforms and shoes fit, and the household is ready for the school year routine. We see you, appreciate you, and thank you.

St. Barnabas, Son of Encouragement, pray for us.

First Day Pictures

Our hearts (and classrooms) are full! View the album of first day pictures!

First School Mass

Please join us on Tuesday at 8:45am in the Church for our first weekly school mass. All students in Grades 1 - 8 celebrate mass as a school each week, and our kindergarten and preschool students will begin joining us in a few months. The mass is an opportunity to connect with our faith and rejoice with our student lectors, eucharistic ministers, and choir. 

Upcoming Due Date: August 30

Next Friday, August 30, is the due date for numerous items; we greatly appreciate your attention.

• Data Sheet “the green sheet” - The Family Packet you received at Information Sunday includes a green sheet of paper with your family information. Please review and verify that all information we have on file is correct, and then return to school with your child - Attention: Main Office.
• Family Authorization - Your signed acknowledgment and authorization is required. 
• Service Day - Our all-school Service Day is October 4, and families are required to complete an individual online registration for each child by Friday, August 30. The online registration authorizes your permission for the day (just like a field trip) and provides a chaperone registration opportunity. The cost of the day, $12 per student, will be added to the incidental expenses of your tuition statement.
• 8th Grade - Class of 2025 details are linked here. Parents, be sure to register for a volunteer role.

School Calendar 

Part of what makes St. Barnabas so special is the vibrancy of our school! To help manage our busy school calendar, we divide it into a few sections. The calendar is visible from the homepage of our website and also linked in the Calendar and New section:

• School Events - daytime events for students and evening events for parents are logged here.
• Athletics - Only games are listed here; practice time for individual teams are managed directly by the coaches in TeamSnap. We are currently in season for Girls Basketball, Football and Cheer, and Soccer. Check out the schedule and come cheer on our Buckeyes!
• AfterSchool- Student enrichment classes and clubs are detailed here.

Meal Manage

Optional hot lunch for students in Kindergarten-Grade 8 is prepared by Gilhooley's Country House and managed online through Meal Manage. A lunch (which includes milk) costs $6.25 per day; milk may also be pre-ordered separately for $0.85.  

Hot lunch is not available for preschool students, but PK does have the option to pre-order a daily serving of milk.

Lunch must be pre-ordered online by families through their MealManage online account. Orders should be placed by Thursday night for the week ahead.

Google Classroom and Power School

Access to PowerSchool and Google Classroom will begin when we return from Labor Day. The teachers will review the Google Classroom process with parents at the September 5th Back to School Night.  

Extended Day Begins Next Week

Before and after care for students begins on Monday. All students utilizing care must be pre-registered. Program details and enrollment can be found here.

Big Bucks

Our annual Big Bucks Raffle is underway, and the $50,000 Grand Prize drawing will take place at the Parish Fall Fest on September 28. Each family received their three tickets in the Info Sunday Family Packets. Be sure to return your ticket stubs by Wednesday, September 4, at 3pm for a chance at our Early Bird Drawing (five chances to win $1,000!) at our Back to School Night for Parents.

Upcoming School Pictures

Pictures Day for students in Preschool-Grade 7 is Friday, September 13! A flyer from Van Gogh School Photographers was in your Info Sunday Family Packet. Families have the option to pre-order at www.ordervgil.com using School Event Code: 20051501. The re-take date is Tuesday, Otcober 29.

Preschool students who do not typically attend school on Friday, are welcome to stop by school during the designated picture slot (exact time of day to be announced soon) or have them taken on Tuesday, October 29.

8th Grade Graduation Portraits will be taken on Wednesday, October 16 (more details to come).

Bitty Buckeyes

We welcome our youngest Buckeyes to experience St. Barnabas. If you have younger children, age 18 months - 3 years, please join us for our Tuesday morning sessions. We also invite you to share the registration with any young families in the neighborhood! Register here.

Join the Golf Team

Fall Golf registration for students in Grades 5 - 8 is now open! The season runs from September 7 - October 20. Registration is through TeamSnap, with course fees paid separately.

The cost for the season is approximately $200: Course fees: $15 per match (7 matches); practice free is $6 -$10 per session (7 practices); uniform fee is $25 - $50 per person. Please contact Coach PJ McGrath for additional details at pjmcgrathiv@gmail.com.

After School Classes

The FSA is hoping to launch some After School Enrichment Classes in the coming month. We also offer a few other opportunities for after-school classes that are coordinated outside of the FSA:

Run Like a Cheetah - Kids learn to run while having fun! 5-week sessions beginning in September. Tuesdays 3pm - 4pm: Grades 6- 8; Thursdays 3pm - 4pm: Grades 1 - 5.

Weber School of Irish Dance - Beginner lessons. Monday afternoons 3pm - 3:45pm in the Church Hall, September - May. The class is open to boys and girls aged four years and older.

Adventure Guides and Blackhawk Princesses

The Adventure Guides father-son group and the Blackhawk Princesses father-daughter group will be starting up again soon. These groups provide a wonderful opportunity to bond with your children, have your children make new friends, and foster a sense of community among parents in the parish. Activities include but are not limited to attending sporting events, skiing, camping, building model rockets/pinewood derby cars, and skating. 

If you are interested in the Adventure Guides father-son group, please email Brian Pearson at bfpearson21@yahoo.com. 

If you are interested in the Blackhawk Princesses father-daughter group, please email Mike Groth at michael.alan.groth@gmail.com.

Class Liasion

The Classroom Liaison, coordinated through the FSA and school administration, is a volunteer role similar to a traditional “room parent."  If you are interested in serving as a Classroom Liaison for your child's homeroom, please complete the Volunteer Form. The School Administration will review all submissions and appoint liaisons. Please contact FSA Liaison Coordinator Brie Trierney with any questions at marybrienne@gmail.com.

Academic Excellence Committee

The Academic Excellence Committee will meet on Wednesday, August 28th, from 6:15pm to 7:15pm in the Media Center. If you are interested in joining the committee, please email Brian Pearson at bfpearson21@yahoo.com

The Academic Excellence Committee is one of the standing committees of the School Advisory Board. All Parents/Guardians of the school are welcome to join one of the standing committees of the Board. Members are qualified individuals who demonstrate an interest and desire to support the school community.

Thank you to the FSA for hosting a lovely coffee on Thursday morning. There is no better way to start the year than by sharing good company and conversation.

Thank you to the Chicago Police Department for your support on the first day of school; we look forward to welcoming you back on Monday for a second Gold Star first-day greeting.

We also thank our teachers for their tireless effort in preparing their classrooms to welcome the students—thank you for showing the power and opportunity of a Catholic education.